New RA rules after SPIRE
Jul 19, 2015, 11:49 pm
#46
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Not for me. Spending that much time in hotels means I'm never in a position of doubt about requalifying. My IHG stays are almost exclusively IC so that helps. But even if I was a less frequent traveller, hotel status achievement would fall pretty far down my list of stressors.
And with another program, FB, you have to earn the top level for 10 years consecutive to get lifetime status. I think there were exactly two years out of the ten that I stressed a bit as we came up to year end.
Jul 20, 2015, 2:34 am
#48
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I guess it depends on how much you exploit your RA membership.
Jul 20, 2015, 2:41 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: WORLD
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Flying Blue (KLM) Platinum, Oneworld (BA) Sapphire, *A (Aegean) Gold, IHG Spire RA,
Posts: 555
Well not exactly. A quick phone call to the Ambassador line has gotten me an indication of whether I'm safe or I need another few nights. That's a tiny bit of energy and getting renewed is a huge benefit for the following year.
I guess it depends on how much you exploit your RA membership.
I guess it depends on how much you exploit your RA membership.
and for the reply above on the FB for 10 years. This year I did a few ME3 also as i took so many level miles from the year before i already qualified this year for next. I'm at 5 years now. I hope to fly 40-50 years more so it makes sense to get for life as the last years probably will be not that much flying.
Jul 20, 2015, 5:55 am
#51
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Jul 20, 2015, 12:59 pm
#53
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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I agree; the club for me is important. i do a lot of business meetings there too. it's easy and nice.
and for the reply above on the FB for 10 years. This year I did a few ME3 also as i took so many level miles from the year before i already qualified this year for next. I'm at 5 years now. I hope to fly 40-50 years more so it makes sense to get for life as the last years probably will be not that much flying.
and for the reply above on the FB for 10 years. This year I did a few ME3 also as i took so many level miles from the year before i already qualified this year for next. I'm at 5 years now. I hope to fly 40-50 years more so it makes sense to get for life as the last years probably will be not that much flying.
Jul 20, 2015, 2:13 pm
#54
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True if booking the lowest level room, but I would argue that as RA if you book at least an Exec room, you should be guaranteed Club at pretty much every IC that has a Club. Certainly if you contact the reservation manager and negotiate.
Jul 20, 2015, 6:41 pm
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 550
Well not exactly. A quick phone call to the Ambassador line has gotten me an indication of whether I'm safe or I need another few nights. That's a tiny bit of energy and getting renewed is a huge benefit for the following year.
I guess it depends on how much you exploit your RA membership.
I guess it depends on how much you exploit your RA membership.
Jul 21, 2015, 12:53 am
#56
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Whether there should be lounge access for RA's is a different question. You could argue that RA is rare enough that it wouldn't be overly burdensome for properties but I typically value the free minibar and decent upgrades well above club access and wouldn't like to trade benefits.
If I want club I normally book a club room as this also tends to give me a really decent upgrade and I only book club when I am travelling with a partner.
Jul 21, 2015, 1:28 am
#57
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
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I had RA for maybe 8 years, but travel reduced (actually nice) and I had to give up on "chasing the rabbit" 
. Now as AMB I don't sweat it any longer and stay at ICs and IHG brand hotels when convenient or good corp rate or so. Liberating, but I digress.
What ticks me off (and I think that is the same for most of us here based on many threads) is that on reward stays almost all benefits except the useful 4PM check out do not apply when it matters. It bothered me tremendously when I was RA and still does, but before I would consider again putting 75+ nights in with IHG and ICs to make RA (let's not talk about that Spire joke) this cr*p policy needs to change first. YMMV.
. Now as AMB I don't sweat it any longer and stay at ICs and IHG brand hotels when convenient or good corp rate or so. Liberating, but I digress.What ticks me off (and I think that is the same for most of us here based on many threads) is that on reward stays almost all benefits except the useful 4PM check out do not apply when it matters. It bothered me tremendously when I was RA and still does, but before I would consider again putting 75+ nights in with IHG and ICs to make RA (let's not talk about that Spire joke) this cr*p policy needs to change first. YMMV.
Jul 21, 2015, 1:41 am
#58
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What ticks me off (and I think that is the same for most of us here based on many threads) is that on reward stays almost all benefits except the useful 4PM check out do not apply when it matters. It bothered me tremendously when I was RA and still does, but before I would consider again putting 75+ nights in with IHG and ICs to make RA (let's not talk about that Spire joke) this cr*p policy needs to change first. YMMV.
Jul 21, 2015, 1:53 am
#59
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
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IC resorts in Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Bali come to mind on top of my head plus some city ICs like in Tokyo or so, but yes you are right that not all are that strict with exact T&Cs though the fact that any property can change their ways at any time which does not leave great certainty.
Jul 21, 2015, 9:04 am
#60
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